Pupils and staff at Purple Oaks Academy are celebrating the school’s latest Ofsted report where the school was awarded expected standard in every area.
The school, which is a specialist provision for pupils aged three to 18, was recently inspected under Ofsted's new framework for the first time. The new framework no longer assigns a single overall judgement and instead evaluates schools across several areas, including achievement, inclusion and curriculum and teaching.
In particular, the report praised pupils’ personal development and wellbeing. Staff at Purple Oaks Academy were found to place strong emphasis on building positive relationships and developing communication, independence and practical life skills to help pupils prepare for their next steps, both in education and beyond.
Inspectors also commended teachers for demonstrating secure subject knowledge and explaining concepts clearly to pupils. They said the curriculum is sequenced appropriately across a range of subjects, with the Early Years curriculum being ambitious and carefully designed, supporting children to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to access future learning.
Other highlights from the reports include:
- “Pupils benefit from a well-designed curriculum that is appropriate for their age and stage of learning. This is further personalised to meet their individual needs.”
- “Pupils communicate that they are happy and feel safe due to the care and commitment of the staff that look after them."
- "Excellent pastoral support contributes strongly to pupils' personal development. Staff know pupils well and provide highly personalised support that promotes pupils' wellbeing.”
- “Pupils benefit from a wide range of experiences that extend beyond the classroom. All pupils access opportunities such as outdoor education, swimming, horse riding and rock climbing.”
- “The school engages positively with families of pupils who attend the school. Parents and carers speak highly of the school’s work to support them and their children.”
Leaders say they remain ambitious and committed to building on the positive report, including further developing teaching and support strategies at the school.
Dr Ash Gering, Interim Head of School at Purple Oaks Academy, said:
"I am thrilled that Ofsted has recognised the work and efforts of everyone at Purple Oaks. This report shows that our pupils and their development are at the centre of everything we do, and reflects the hard work and commitment of the entire school community.
“I am grateful to staff, pupils and families for their support in making this possible. We are already planning our next steps and look forward to delivering the best possible education for our pupils."